Who can a get to do some grinding?

Steel-Junky · Feb 9, 2009

Got a Strider WP. I love the knife but the more I use it the more I don't like the little shark fin swedge on the back of it... would like to have it ground down a little and made a little more practical since I don't know what the swedge is for anyway. Anyone know of someone that do a professional job of this and make it look nice and neat and not jack up my heat treat. Links or addresses would be greatly appreciated. I tried Bill Siegle but he's not taking any work right now... I emailed Krein but never heard back.

kc custom · Feb 9, 2009

Try STR here on blade forums.

DutchV · Feb 10, 2009

Buy a Dremel, and jump in.

richard j · Feb 10, 2009

i might be able to help you out.

Steel-Junky · Feb 10, 2009

DutchV said:
Buy a Dremel, and jump in.

Scary... I'm not there yet in my confidence in my Mod Skills... Edge reprofiling, handle making, sheath making... I'll give it a try... not major stock removal though.

Macchina · Feb 11, 2009

I assume you are talking about the circled part:

That shouldn't be too hard at all. If you have access to a bench grinder (or a right angle grinder with 2" sanding discs would be better), it will be done in a matter of minutes. If you don't go crazy in between coolant dips, it will be difficult to screw up the heat treat. The only problem will be the lack of finish on that area when you are done. If you can hold an angle when re profiling an edge, or fit a handle scale, this should be easy.

Steel-Junky · Feb 11, 2009

michaelmcgo said:
I assume you are talking about the circled part:

That shouldn't be too hard at all. If you have access to a bench grinder (or a right angle grinder with 2" sanding discs would be better), it will be done in a matter of minutes. If you don't go crazy in between coolant dips, it will be difficult to screw up the heat treat. The only problem will be the lack of finish on that area when you are done. If you can hold an angle when re profiling an edge, or fit a handle scale, this should be easy.

LOL No... There are three or four different models of the WP... Mine is some kind of persian clip point job... the spine of the blade looks seriously like a sharks fin. I traded for it from a member here a while back. It has a custom micarta handle on it... here is a pic taken by the original owner.

DutchV · Feb 11, 2009

I think before I ground that hump off, I'd consider selling the knife and buying a different one. You're gonna kill any collector value it might have.

Macchina · Feb 12, 2009

Oh that!
Nice looking knife, I think it would look like a Mora without the fin on it. That is a bit more work than the knife I posted. Keep us updated on how it goes if you grind it or get a maker to grind it.
I think you not hesitate to modify it because of collector value. If you like the knife, keep it and make it yours.

If you can't find a pro to do it, I can do it. I am not inexperienced, I have made 6 or so knives and work in a metal shop every day. It will look nice if you want me to remove or reduce it, I just don't know how creative I can be with what material is there. How is the micarta to steel fit?

Steel-Junky · Feb 12, 2009

michaelmcgo said:
Oh that!
Nice looking knife, I think it would look like a Mora without the fin on it. That is a bit more work than the knife I posted. Keep us updated on how it goes if you grind it or get a maker to grind it.
I think you not hesitate to modify it because of collector value. If you like the knife, keep it and make it yours.

If you can't find a pro to do it, I can do it. I am not inexperienced, I have made 6 or so knives and work in a metal shop every day. It will look nice if you want me to remove or reduce it, I just don't know how creative I can be with what material is there. How is the micarta to steel fit?

The fit is like a tank! It feels really good in the hand. I don't think you can see it in the pic but it has finger grooves cut in the back of the handle near the top, in the round where your index finger would go, and also on the bottom rear where you thumb might go in a reverse grip. It's handles really well. I'm gonna keep part of the fin as I like the thum rest... but when cutting through things the point of the fin will catch and hook the material... It's just a pain. I think... if you can understand what I'm saying... is that I want to start about a half inch up the ramp from the handle... and then just level the knife off in the natural plain of the tip. This will probably take off about a 1/4" of width total from the blade.

richard j · Feb 13, 2009

steel-junky, that wont be any problem for me to cut down. just mark out on the blade how you want it cut.